Cranberry Margarita Recipe

Cranberry margarita is the perfect cocktail to spread the holiday cheer. It’s got that delicious sweet tart taste and vibrant red color that would look gorgeous on your Christmas or New Year’s spread. Made in just 5 minutes using a few simple ingredients, there’s no better take on a classic margarita than this. 

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Margarita has always been my cocktail of choice. From frozen to flavored, there’s no shortage of varieties to choose from to fit any mood, taste, or occasion. There’s only one recipe that comes to mind when the holidays are around the corner, though – cranberry margarita! It combines tart cranberry juice, tangy lime juice, and smooth tequila then poured into salt-rimmed glasses and garnished with fresh cranberries, herbs, and lime wedges. Delicious as it is beautiful!

Also called mistletoe margarita, it’s special enough for toasting during Christmas, but easy enough to whip up for happy hour any day. It’s great for other holidays like Thanksgiving, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, too. Crisp, cool, and refreshing, make a big batch for your next party because they’re a hot commodity!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy as can be: Ready in just 5 minutes with basic ingredients, it’s ideal for last-minute gatherings or whenever you need a quick cocktail fix.
• Visually pleasing: Fresh rosemary sprigs and lime wedges add a nice pop of color to this rich ruby red cocktail. The combination of colors and textures not only make a delicious drink but also a stunning addition to any spread.
• Make-ahead friendly: A quick cocktail you can make ahead for convenience. Just prepare the mixture, store in the fridge for up to 48 hours, and pour over ice on salt-rimmed glasses when ready to serve!
• All-around cocktail: From holiday gatherings and dinner parties to casual brunches, cranberry margarita won’t disappoint.
• Customizable: Easily adjust the flavors to your liking or add your favorite mix-ins to make this recipe uniquely yours.

How to Make Cranberry Margarita

Let’s put a holiday spin on a classic cocktail with this quick and easy cranberry margarita! My version only requires you to prep the serving glasses, mix the ingredients using a cocktail shaker, and garnish for presentation. That’s it. Read further and I’ll show you how to turn a simple drink into a standout centerpiece!

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Cranberry juice: The refreshing base that provides the drink with a beautiful deep red color. Choose a juice brand that offers 100% juice – they’re less sweet, provide a brighter color, and you can sweeten your drink to taste.
• Tequila: The backbone of this cocktail! Choose a brand of tequila that you like to drink. I recommend using silver tequila because it packs more punch but offers a more mellow taste than gold.
• Triple Sec: Triple Sec is a sweet orange-flavored liqueur that brings brightness and zestiness to the drink.
• Lime juice: Brightens the drink and helps cut through the sweetness. I use freshly-squeezed lime juice for the best flavor but feel free to use store-bought.
• Salt: Used in this recipe to rim the serving glasses. Salt is great at rounding out the flavors, too.
• Lime wedges: Used as a garnish for this recipe so that drinkers can customize the tartness of the cocktail to their preference.
• Fresh cranberries: Adds a burst of color and texture to the drink as well as a festive touch.
• Rosemary: For added visual appeal.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ready to make this eye-catching, mouth-watering cocktail? Follow the 3 easy steps below to get started!

Step 1: Prep

Pour the salt into a shallow dish. Run one lime wedge around the rim of the two glasses then turn them upside down and dip in the salt. Press firmly so the salt covers the inside and out of the rim. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add cranberry juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Shake well to combine. 

Step 3: Garnish

Strain the mixture evenly between the glasses. Cut the rosemary into four smaller pieces. Garnish with cranberries, rosemary, and remaining lime wedges.

No cocktail shaker? Use a large glass or jar and stir well with a spoon. Then, strain as usual.

Substitutions

You will love cranberry margarita more if you use ingredients that you love. Here are ideal substitutions in case you want to use alternative ingredients:

• Tequila: If you don’t have tequila on hand, make a vodkarita and use vodka instead. Make sure to use tequila next time – it’s one of the 3 main ingredients of a margarita, after all!
• Triple Sec: Substitute Triple Sec with other orange-flavored liqueurs like Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Orange Curacao if not available.
• Salt: Don’t want to rim your glass with salt? Use sugar instead. You can also use half salt and half sugar for a more well-rounded flavor.

Variations

Cranberry margarita is already amazing, but a few tweaks or additions makes it even better! Try these fun variations to see which one is your favorite!

• Make cranberry margarita, restaurant-style. Just blend the wet ingredients together with ice until smooth, then serve with a straw. This frosty, slushy version is super refreshing.
• Margaritas taste great with a little bit of heat. Add a slice of jalapeño or a dash of chili powder to the cocktail shaker when you make cranberry margarita. Sweet, spicy, tangy goodness!
• Add ginger syrup or fresh ginger for a warm, spicy undertone.
• Sweeten with 1 tablespoon of honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, or simple syrup for some natural sweetness that pairs well with the tartness of the cranberry and lime.
• Swap out half of the cranberry juice for pomegranate juice to deepen the color and flavor of the cocktail.
• Who doesn’t like creamy cocktails? Mix in a splash of coconut cream for a smooth, velvety cranberry margarita.

Expert Tips

• Use premium ingredients: The key to good cocktails is to use high-quality ingredients because you will be able to tell the difference in taste and texture in the final product. Using quality tequila, for example, will give your cranberry margarita a cleaner, crisper flavor without any harshness.
• Adjust the sweetness: If your mixture is on the sweeter side, balance it out by reducing the amount of Triple Sec or adding a little more lime juice until you reach your desired taste.
• Garnish creatively: Garnish your cranberry margaritas according to the occasion. Sugared cranberries, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks, mint leaves, edible flowers, and orange wheels are some good options.
• Try different rim flavors: Experiment with different rim flavors. Aside from just plain salt or sugar, try brown sugar-cinnamon, salt-lime zest, or salt-chili powder.
• Chill the glasses: Pop your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving to keep your margaritas cold longer and make it extra refreshing.

How to Store This Recipe

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store at room temperature or in the refrigerator, whichever you prefer. The alcohol content of cranberry margaritas allows for a long shelf life, but the quality diminishes gradually over time. 

I recommend consuming the mixture stored at room temperature within 1 month and the mixture stored in the fridge within 3 months. When ready to use, simply pour over ice. Salt-rimmed glasses and garnishes are optional.

What to Serve with Cranberry Margarita

Serve cranberry margaritas as part of your holiday spread, along with holiday staples like turkey, stuffing, prime rib, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and casseroles. If enjoying it casually, pair it with spicy chicken wings, grilled shrimp skewers, or Mexican food like tortilla + guacamole and tacos. For a heartier pairing, serve the cocktail with soup and salad plus your favorite protein main.

If you make this cranberry margarita, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!